Racing legend Craig Lowndes to race Finke Desert Race for first time

Australian racing legend Craig Lowndes is ready to tackle the Finke Desert road race for first time in a truck he believes will go the distance of the prestigious race. Read how preparations are going.

Supercars legend Craig Lowndes will be taking on one of Australia’s most acclaimed races in this year’s edition of the Finke Desert Race.

The three-time Supercars champion has been confirmed as the driver of the Silverado ZR2 Off-Road Racer, built in partnership between Chevrolet Racing and GMSV, for his first ever go at the race.

Navigator Dale Moscatt will join Lowndes in the truck, and brings with him plenty of experience in the field of off-road racing, including multiple visits to Dakar and other signature events.

Lowndes said he had been to Finke a number of times as a spectator, and while he had been lucky enough to race in the Prologue previously had never been down the track.

“I’ve been there a number of times as a spectator and always wanted to do it, if it was 20 years ago I wouldn’t mind doing it on two wheels, but four wheels with a cage is much safer,” Lowndes said.

“The main aim for everyone in this project, it’s been a passion of love, is we want to see the truck go down, but also we want it to return.

Craig Lowndes and Dale Moscatt gearing up for the 2024 edition of Finke.

“Of course, I’m a race driver and want to try and beat our class, but we’ve got some stiff competition so first things first let’s get it home and see where we end up.”

The off-roader truck is intended to showcase the all-round capability and demonstrate multi-purpose off-road prowess, and Lowndes and Moscatt have already put it through its paces.

“We’ve put the truck through its challenges and have had a number of test days and have got used to the truck so I’m looking forward to seeing what it goes like down the track,” Lowndes said.

“The capability of the truck is far beyond what I thought we could do with it, we’ve put it through some tough stuff and it’s stood up, and it just shows the toughness of these trucks.”

Moscatt has busied himself with building a race notes system of 119 pages to guide the pair through the 225km down the track, and then back again.

But more than anything was looking forward to the very special atmosphere of Finke, which he said was a “very special event”.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s your first time or going back there again, the excitement for the event is amazing and I’m looking forward to everything it involves,” Moscatt said.

“It’s going to be a big challenge, it’s a long, long course and we’re expecting a few hours in the truck each way, which means a lot of concentration.

“The course is very specific, it’s very diverse, there’s a lot of places where this machine is going to be amazing, I’m really looking forward to the fast, rally sections in the middle of the course.

“We’ve got to find out what the strengths and weaknesses of the car are, it’s an all-round great package, but we’ve got to take it easy in some of the really rough places while it will excel in others.”

The Tatts Finke Desert Race is from June 7-10, with teams racing from Alice Springs to the settlement of Aputula (Finke) and back.